5 Destinations in Carmel, From the Valley to the Sea

This area on the Monterey Peninsula is home to wineries, a picturesque coastline, art galleries and exceptional bistros. Here are five stops you can't miss.

By Matt Kettmann

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Thanks to dramatic terrain on the Central Coast, it takes only a few minutes to drive from hot-climate mountains to the foggy sea. This is especially true around Carmel, where an afternoon horseback ride can segue into gallery hopping and alfresco dining in the oceanside village.

Big Sur Road Closure: Highway One is closed at Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, which is being replaced after damage from California’s winter storms. The new bridge is expected to open in late September 2017. For updates, see Caltrans.

Reviews wines from California.

A fifth generation Californian originally from San Jose, Matt Kettmann covers California’s Central Coast and South Coast for the magazine. He is also the senior editor of The Santa Barbara Independent, where he’s worked since 1999, has written for the New York Times, Time Magazine, Wine Spectator, and Smithsonian, and co-founded New Noise Santa Barbara, a music festival.